Abstract: The present invention provides an article, comprising: a fabric sheet which has been compacted using a heat shrink yarn; and a curable or hardenable resin coated onto the fabric sheet. The present invention involves compacting a fabric sheet to impart stretchability and conformability to the fabric while minimizing undesirable recovery forces. Suitable fabrics for compacting are fabrics which comprise fiberglass fibers which are capable of first being compacted and then being set or annealed in the distorted, state. The article may be in the form of an orthopedic bandage and may optionally contain a microfiber filler associated with the resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article, comprising: a fabric sheet which has been compacted using a heat shrink yarn; and a curable or hardenable resin coated onto the fabric sheet. The present invention involves compacting a fabric sheet to impart stretchability and conformability to the fabric while minimizing undesirable recovery forces. Suitable fabrics for compacting are fabrics which comprise fiberglass fibers which are capable of first being compacted and then being heat set or annealed in the compacted state. The article may be in the form of an orthopedic bandage and may optionally contain a microfiber filler associated with the resin.

Abstract: An optical fiber element includes an optical fiber having a numerical aperture ranging from 0.08 to 0.34 and a protective coating affixed to the outer surface of the optical fiber. The protective coating has a Shore D hardnees value of 65 or more and remains on the optical fiber during connectorization so that the fiber is neither damaged by the blades of a stripping tool nor subjected to chemical or physical attack.

Abstract: A dichroic dyestuff having the formulaQ--A--Zwherein:A is a poly(arylazo) linking group wherein the aryl comprises 6 to 10 carbon atoms and has 4,4'-azo linkages;Q is a bis-substituted aryl thiazyl substituent wherein the aryl comprises 6 to 10 carbon atoms;andZ is selected from the group consisting of naphthalene having an alkyl substituted amino in the 4 position, 2,3-dihydro-2,2'-substituted-perimidine and julolidine groups;forms guest-host combinations with nematic liquid crystals. These dichroic dyes have absorption maxima at wavelengths greater than 600 nanometers and transmit less than 50% of incident light having wavelengths between 600 and 700 nanometers. Thus these dyes, when combined with dichroic dyes which have absorption maxima between 400 and 600 nanometers, and nematic liquid crystals, are useful to provide electro-optical displays which change from clear to a neutral black color or vice versa when an electric field is applied to the electro-optical display.